Figure 1: Adiponectin deficiency promotes psoriasiform dermatitis.

Shaved back skin and ears of wild-type (WT) and adiponectin-deficient (Adipo knockout (Adipo KO)) mice were topically treated with imiquimod (IMQ) or control Vaseline (Vas) for 6 consecutive days. (a) Phenotypical manifestation of WT and Adipo KO mouse back skin induced by IMQ or Ctrl cream application at day 5. (b) Disease severity (left panel) and ear thickness (right panel) during IMQ or Vas treatment. Clinical scores for disease severity were calculated daily using a scoring system based on the clinical Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Data are presented as mean±s.e. (n=3–5 for each group). *P<0.05 versus WT mice with IMQ application. (c) Histological presentation of WT and Adipo KO mouse back skin induced by IMQ or Vas application at day 5 ( × 200). Scale bar, 50 μm. The number of epidermal cell layers and dermal inflammatory cells was counted per high-power field from 3 to 5 mice per group. Data are presented as mean±s.e. (n=3–5). (d) Immunohistochemical presentation of WT and Adipo KO mouse back skin induced by IMQ or Vas application at day 5 ( × 400). Scale bar, 25 μm. The number of CD3 or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II (MHCII)-positive cells was counted per high-power field from 3 to 5 mice per group. Data are presented as mean±s.e. (n=3–5), and analysed by Welch’s t-test for b–d.